Best at Home Teeth Whitening + #H54F Link Ups

Happy Friday everyone! I cannot tell you how thankful l I am this week is over. It was a long week for me and a weekend is much needed. Plus I have awesome plans so be sure to follow along on instagram !

This Friday we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to present you something really cool. You may have seen a few posts lately about this teeth whitening process I have been using from Smile Brilliant. I have flirted with trying teeth whitening in the past as I am a big coffee drinker. I used to drink one big tumbler a day and since Reese was born my intake has definitely spiked. I got a busy life and I need to stay awake for it. The downside? My teeth show it. I try my best by brushing, flossing, and rinsing but it's really never been enough. I look at my teeth and just feel kind of frustrated. Even when I wear dark lipstick, it should make them whiter but no such luck. I just want healthy looking teeth for a brighter smile.

In the past, I have had some intermittent success with whitening programs but they also made my teeth really sensitive. This is a problem for me and definitely made me hesitant to try again. When an opportunity to try Smile Brilliant came along and I saw there was a desensitizing gel, I thought it was definitely worth a try.

I got my kit in the mail and it was a little daunting at first, I won't lie. A lot of steps to the process and I really wanted to make sure I didn't mess it up. Thankfully they provided detailed instructions that made it super simple!

The first step was to mix these two pastes together. You are supposed to layer them together and roll them around until they are completely mixed together, no streaks. These are to make your impressions for your trays.

Press them in evenly on each tray and then put them over the top and bottom of your teeth. These get mailed back in an envelope, included in the kit (3 way shipping is included for domestic order and 2 way shipping is included for international orders FYI), so they can make your custom fitted teeth whitening trays. So fancy!

In a few days, I received my custom fitted teeth whitening trays. They look like clear braces essentially. What's great is that they are tailored to your teeth to ensure the whitening gel fits just right. They come in this cute little case to keep them safe and sound so the whitening can begin.

When whitening, it should be practiced over 7-14 applications. The first step is taking the whitening gel, which comes in an injection type tool, on the front part of the trays. Basically, the part that will rest on the front side of your teeth. You first brush your teeth with just water then wear the trays with the whitening gel for 1-3 hours. Since my teeth are pretty sensitive I did it for about 45-60 minutes each time. Afterward, you can brush your teeth. Then apply the desensitizing gel and wear for about 15-20 minutes. Then be sure to rinse with water so that the desensitizing gel continues to work. Really important that after you don't drink or eat for 30 minutes to prevent re-staining.

I figured out what worked best for me was doing it right before bed. That way I wasn't tempted to eat, it's also probably the only time of day I am sitting still. Otherwise, I did it while I worked out in the morning, by the time the process was complete, I was done and then getting ready for the day. I did experience some teeth sensitivity so I just took a day off in between. I'll admit, early on when I was running out of time I skipped the desensitizing gel. In a word: don't. Just make the time. Trust me.

At the end of 10 sessions, I definitely saw a change. I just noticed my teeth to be overall brighter and the staining from coffee was basically gone. I got really excited and told D. I was met with his tepid response, but then I showed him my before and after photos:

BEFORE

AFTER

Then he changed his tune. Noticeably brighter, right? I could not be happier. I have felt self-conscious about my teeth for a long time and now I am not afraid to flash my pearly whites.

So, good news! One of you lucky people can win one of these kits to try for yourself. You will not be disappointed. Enter below and leave a comment as well as signing up for updates on all my posts for a chance to win!